Lacklustre Hornets punished on their travels,
Rochford Hundred 33, Hinckley 26 Leicester Lions 35, Old Albanian 14 National League 2 South
DESPITE playing one of the weakest sides in the league, Hinckley were outplayed, outfought, and outgunned by Rochford Hundred who had only managed six victories this season before this game, writes Nick Robinson.
It was truly a disheartening experience and one which has become all too familiar for Hinckley supporters this season.
Hornets did salvage two points from the game at the death when, with Rochford down to 13 men, the referee awarded a penalty try when the Hinckley pack drove over the line from a scrum, only to be denied by a Rochford infringement.
The score gave Hinckley a four-try bonus point and brought the score within seven points but that failed to make up for what was a mediocre performance when too many players appeared to be coasting through the game.
The line-out was a shambles and cost several missed try scoring opportunities and the back division was largely unable to break the Rochford defensive line.
The home side, buoyed by their best ever victory last week away to Henley, were far more incisive and aggressive, particularly around the breakdown, notching up five tries against Hinckley’s four, including two by Josh Smith.
Disappointed Hornets head coach Chris Campbell said: “Rochford brought more energy throughout the game than we did.
“Our breakdown wasn’t as effective as we saw against Worthing which made life difficult for (scrum-half) Ben Pointon and we couldn’t generate the momentum we wanted.
“I’m concerned about how easily we are leaking tries. It’s great to be scoring them, and again we scored a try bonus point, but we aren’t making oppositions earn their tries.
“It was the same last week, and it
is an area which has to improve.
“We need people to become accountable for their actions in this area.”
Meanwhile, Leicester Lions battled to a home victory over Old Albanian.
Careless play by the visitors gave Lions two early penalties, both slotted between the posts by Ben Young.
Old Albanian came back with some sustained forward pressure, and their prop Harry Samuel drove over the line in tight play to open the try scoring, with Greg Lound adding the conversion.
Lions almost instantly responded by putting pressure on the Old
Albanian line with their hooker, Calum Harris, scuppering over for a try, with Young adding the extras to give the Lions a 13-7 lead.
After another period of sustained pressure, Lions mishandled the ball and Old Albanian centre Dan Watt seized the opportunity for a try, with Lound adding the conversion to put Old Albanian 14-13 ahead at halftime.
After the break, Lions took advantage of the slope and pressurised Old Albanian with their No.8 Nick Cairns forcing his way over for a typical back row try to put Lions 18-14 in front.
Young then added his third penalty of the afternoon.
The game looked set for an exciting and close last ten minutes.
Lions’ forward pressure worked the play down the right with replacement hooker Drew Rudkin thrusting through the Old Albanian defence for a try, skilfully converted by Young from near the touch line.
To finish off the afternoon, a miskicked attempt by Lions to put the ball out of play turned out to be a looping ball which their winger Jake Sterland grasped.
He outpaced the Old Albanian defence for Lions’ fourth try and five match points, with another splendid conversion from Young.
Following the victory, Lions moved up to fifth position in
National League 2 South.
Lions head coach Gareth Collins said: “A really pleasing result against a very good OAs side.
“We knew they had a very threatening attack but they also bought a very physical game and made things really difficult for us.
“We dictated proceedings for most of the afternoon though, especially in the second half, so a deserved victory.”
Lions chairman Ken Whitehead said: “The lads have been playing well under the guidance of Gareth.
“It was a tight nail-biting game against OAs, until the two Lions tries in the last 10 minutes.”